ES2378003T3 - Two component measuring pump assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A measuring system (10) for dispensing a two part adhesive, comprising: a first gear pump (12, 62, 100) for pumping a first component of the two part adhesive, the first gear pump having (12, 62, 100) a first inlet (26, 74) to receive the first component of the two part adhesive and a first outlet (22, 70); a second gear pump (14, 64, 102) for pumping a second component of the two-part adhesive, the second gear pump (14, 64, 102) having a second inlet (28, 76) to receive the second component of the two part adhesive and a second outlet (24, 72); a manifold (20, 68, 106) that communicates with the first outlet (22, 70) of the first gear pump (12, 62, 100) and the second outlet (24, 72) of the second gear pump (14 , 64, 102), and having at least two manifold outlets (31, 32, 77, 79) to dispense the first and second components of the two-part adhesive into a mixing device (30, 78); and a motor (18, 66, 104) functionally coupled to the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 62, 64, 100, 102) and that drives the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 62, 64, 100, 102) in a fixed speed ratio with respect to the other, characterized in that the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 102) are held adjacent to each other on the manifold (20, 68, 106) or they are separated and placed on opposite sides of the collector (20, 68, 106).

Description

Two component measuring pump assembly.

Technical field

Generally, this invention relates to liquid dispensing systems, and more particularly to a dual component measuring pump assembly driven by an individual motor. The invention in particular relates to a measuring system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Various types of pumps, such as piston pumps and gear pumps, have been used in liquid dispensing systems to facilitate the dispensing of liquid material. Although the configurations of the pumps themselves are known, there is room for improvement in the designs of the assemblies that use these pumps in various applications.

In various fields, such as the window glazing adhesives market, two must be mixed

or more components in a static mixer or similar device before application to a window. These two components should not interact before being administered to the static mixer, so that separate pumps driven by separate motors have generally been used to administer the two components to the mixer. These separate pumps can be piston pumps, reciprocating pumps, gear pumps or any other type of pump. Piston pumps have been very popular in these industries since a piston pump is easily and economically purchased in various sizes. The two components mixed in the dispensing system usually have a mixing ratio that the pumps have to meet precisely. For example, adhesives used in the window glazing market are two component materials that need to be mixed in proportions of approximately 1: 1 to 10: 1, depending on the particular type of adhesive selected. Although a mixing ratio in the range of about 8: 1 to 13: 1 can provide acceptable results for the 10: 1 adhesive, the more precise the mixing ratio, the better the results.

Document FR 2 654 011 A1 describes a measurement system that comprises all the features of the preamble of claim 1. A plant is suggested that is characterized in that in the application for measurement and mixing of at least two components of a pasty nature, The medium of sensation consists of gear pumps.

US 4,931,249 A describes an apparatus and a method for mixing and dispensing multi-component high viscosity reactive liquids in a mold. The apparatus and procedure are provided for mixing and dispensing multi-component high viscosity reactive liquids in a mold. The apparatus and method described therein are particularly suitable for mixing and dispensing fire-resistant, intumescent, highly viscous materials. Each reactive liquid component is stored in a separate pressure vessel. Liquid components flowing through separate conduits are conducted from each pressure vessel and measured by a gear pump located in each component conduit. A pinion gear synchronously connects the gear pumps, and the self-locking motor adapts to drive the connected gear pumps.

US 4,090,262 describes a mixing and proportioning apparatus for multi-component plastic materials, such as polyurethane. The apparatus comprises several tanks, a mixing chamber and a separate pipe connecting each tank with the mixing chamber. The tanks are provided with pressurization means to make the components flow through the pipes and each pipe is provided with a measuring mechanism to control the flow of the component passing through it. The measuring mechanisms of the different pipes are positively coupled to each other so that the speed of the flow of the components through the pipes is maintained in constant proportions.

The use of two motors to drive two separate component pumps requires an additional measuring mechanism to ensure that the two components are being administered in an acceptable proportion. Using two motors, two pumps and a measuring mechanism for this single function, an operator will have multiple controls to monitor, including the speed controls of the two motors. The increased complexity of these systems creates more occupations in the operator. The potential for error increases due to this increased complexity. More equipment also increases the probability of failure of a particular component, thus having to repair the entire system. Therefore, there is a need for a dispensing system to accurately and efficiently mix two two-component adhesive materials that address these and other problems of previous systems.

The invention solves the underlying problem by providing a measurement system according to claim 1.

Summary

In an illustrative embodiment, a liquid measurement system according to the present description includes a first pump, a second pump, a manifold and an engine. By pumping the two part adhesive, the first pump comprises a first inlet to receive a first component of the two part adhesive and a first outlet to deliver the first component to the manifold. Similarly, the second pump comprises a second inlet to receive a second component of the two-part adhesive and a second outlet to deliver the second component to the manifold. The manifold communicates with the first and second outlet and includes two manifold outputs to dispense each of the components in a mixing device, such as a static mixer.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention provided above, and the detailed description provided below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Figure 1A is a side view of a first embodiment of a "double pump" assembly according to the present description.

Figure 1B is a front view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1A.

Figure 1C is a cross-sectional view of the double pump used in the embodiment shown in Figure 1A.

Figure 1D is a front view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1A showing the lines of the component supply.

Figure 1E is a cross-sectional view of the "double pump" of Figure 1C, taken along line 1E-1E.

Figure 1F is a cross-sectional view of the "double pump" of Figure 1C, taken along line 1F-1F.

Figure 2A is a front view of a second embodiment of a pump assembly in accordance with the present description.

Figure 2B is a front detail view of the embodiment of Figure 2A, illustrating the flow of components in the pumps using hidden lines.

Figure 2C is a detailed front view of the embodiment of Figure 2A, illustrating the flow of components out of the pumps using hidden lines.

Figure 2D is a view taken along the 2D-2D line of Figure 2C.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a pump assembly according to the present description, showing a belt or chain that drives two driving axes of the separate gear pump.

Figure 4 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a pump assembly, similar to Figure 1A.

Detailed description

Figures 1A-1F represent an exemplary embodiment of a liquid measurement system 10, configured to measure and mix components of a two-part adhesive. The measuring system 10 includes a first pump 12 and a second pump 14 contained within a double pump assembly 16, an individual motor 18 (such as a servomotor) and a manifold 20. The manifold 20 communicates with an outlet 22 of the First pump 12 and an outlet 24 of the second pump 14 (Figure 1D). The first pump 12 has an inlet 26, and the second pump 14 has an inlet 28 (Figure 1B). Inputs 26, 28 receive the components to be pumped from a source (not shown). The manifold 20 also includes a first manifold outlet 31 and a first step 27 configured to carry the first component from the outlet 22 of the first pump 12 to the first manifold outlet 31 (Figure 1D). Similarly, manifold 20 includes a second manifold outlet 32 and a second passage 29 configured to carry the second component from outlet 24 of the second pump 14 to the second manifold outlet

32. Each manifold outlet 31, 32 communicates with a static mixer 30, which may be part of a two component gun 33, such as a two part dispensing gun, available from Nordson Corporation of Westlake, Ohio. The static mixer 30 combines the two components and dispenses the mixed adhesive through a nozzle tip 34. The two component gun 33 may include the accessories 35a, 35b for coupling the gun 33 to a source of pressurized air for actuation. the on / off valves on the gun 33.

The double pump assembly 16 used in this embodiment is shown in more detail in Figures 1C, 1E and 1F. In this embodiment, the first pump 12 and the second pump 14 are gear pumps. The first gear pump 12 includes a first gear train 40 comprising a transmission gear 42 and an intermediate gear 44, mounted on a drive shaft 46 and a idle shaft 48, respectively. The first gear pump 12 has a frame thickness h1 as shown in Figure 1C. The second gear pump 14 includes a second gear train 50 comprising a transmission gear 52 and an intermediate gear 54 mounted on the same drive shaft 46 and the idle shaft 48, respectively, as the first gear train 40. The second Gear pump 14 has a frame thickness h2 as shown in Figure 1C. A plurality of plates 56 covers and seals the two gear pumps 12, 14 with respect to the outside environment and with each other.

Referring to Figures 1A and 1F, when the motor 18 drives the drive shaft 46, the first gear train 40 pumps a volume of the first component from the input 26 to the output 22 of the first gear pump 12, while the second three of gears 50 pumps a volume of the second component from the inlet 28 to the outlet 24 of the second gear pump 14. Then, the first component is carried through the first passage 27 of the manifold 20 to a first manifold outlet 31 which communicates with the static mixer 30. Similarly, the second component is carried through the second passage 29 of the manifold 20 to a second outlet of the manifold 32 communicating with the static mixer 30. Finally, the static mixer 30 combines the two components to create the two part adhesive.

The relative size of the two gear trains 40, 50 determines a fixed speed ratio of the double pump assembly of an individual motor 16. When the transmission gears 42, 52 and intermediate gears 44, 54 have the same diameters as shown in Figure 1C, the proportion of the thickness of the h2 / h1 frame determines the volumetric flow rate of the two components administered by the double pump assembly

16. Accordingly, gear trains 40, 50 can be designed to manage any desired volumetric ratio of the two components.

The double pump assembly 16 of this embodiment also includes a frame 36, as shown in Figs. 1A-1D, which holds the first gear pump 12 and the second gear pump 14 adjacent to each other. The frame comprises the manifold 20 in the form of a lower portion, an upper plate 37, and a plurality of rods 39 coupled to the upper plate 37 and the manifold 20. The embodiment of Figures 1A-1D has the first gear pump 12 and the second gear pump 14 resting on the manifold 20, or the lower portion of the housing 36, and the driving shaft 46 extending through the upper plate 37 in the motor 18 located above the upper plate 37. A One skilled in the art will recognize that the frame 36 may alternatively comprise various different structures suitable for supporting the measuring system 10.

Figures 2A-2D represent another embodiment of a liquid measurement system 60 configured to measure and mix the components of a two-part adhesive. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of Figure 1A in that the two pumps 62, 64 of this embodiment are not adjacent to each other, but are separated and placed on opposite sides of the manifold 68. Mechanically, the embodiments work the same way, but the separation of the pumps allows an easier replacement and modification of the two pumps 62, 64 when desired. The measuring system 60 includes a first pump 62, a second pump 64, an individual motor 66 (such as a servomotor) and a manifold 68. The manifold 68 communicates with an outlet 70 of the first pump 62 and an outlet 72 of the second pump 64. The first pump 62 has an input 74, and the second gear pump 64 has an input 76. The inputs 74, 76 receive the components from the respective sources (not shown). The manifold 68 also includes a first manifold outlet 77 and a first passage 81 configured to carry the first component from the outlet 70 of the first pump 62 to the first manifold outlet 77. Similarly, the manifold 68 also includes a second manifold outlet 79 and a second step 83 designed to carry the second component from outlet 72 of the second pump 64 to the second manifold outlet 79. Each manifold outlet 77, 79 communicates with a static mixer 78, which can be part of a two-component gun 80. Static mixer 78 combines the two components and dispenses the adhesive mixed by a nozzle tip 82.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2A-2D, the first and second pumps 62, 64 are again depicted as gear pumps, although it will be appreciated that various different types of pumps can be used as an alternative. The first gear pump 62 includes a gear train 63 comprising a transmission gear 84 and an intermediate gear 86, respectively mounted on a drive shaft 88 and a crazy shaft 92. The second gear pump 64 includes a gear train 65 comprising a transmission gear 85 and an intermediate gear 67, respectively mounted on the common driving shaft 88 and a crazy shaft 93. The two gear pumps 62, 64 are internally coupled in such a way that they set the speed ratio between the pumps 62, 64, and this can be done by driving both pumps 62, 64 with the common drive shaft 88.

The liquid measurement system 60 additionally includes an external frame 90 similar to the frame 36 of Figures 1A-1D. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the outer frame 90 may alternatively comprise any frame suitable for holding the pumps 62, 64 and other components of the liquid measurement system 60. As described above and with respect to the embodiment of the figures 1A-1F, pumps 62, 64 operate at a fixed speed ratio to pump the components of a two-part adhesive at a desired volumetric flow rate relative to the size of pumps 62, 64.

Another exemplary embodiment of a liquid measurement system 150 is shown in Fig. 3. This embodiment contains all the main structural components of the previously described embodiments: Two gear pumps 100, 102, a motor 104, a manifold 106 and a static mixer in a two-component gun 108. Instead of driving both gear pumps 100, 102 through a common drive shaft, as in other described embodiments, the liquid measurement system 150 includes the separate drive shafts 110 , 112 for the respective pumps 100, 102. The motor 104 drives the drive shafts 110, 112 with a belt or chain 114 as shown in Figure 3. All other components have the same characteristics and advantages as described in embodiments. previous.

The liquid measuring systems 10, 60, 150 that have been shown and described above, can be used to mix two-component adhesives, while maintaining a fixed proportion of the two components. In an exemplary application, a liquid measuring system 10, 60, 150 can be used as described above to mix the adhesive used in window glazing applications. The two components of the window glazing adhesive are a base component and a catalyst component. The measurement system can then mix the base components and catalysts in any desired mass ratio, typically between a range of about 1: 1 to about 10: 1 in the field of window glazing. Unlike the known measurement systems with two motors that drive the respective pumps, it is not necessary to make adjustments due to fatigue or replacement of the motor since the measurement of the masses of the base components and catalysts is automatically given in this system measurement. Therefore, a liquid dispensing system according to the present description is very suitable for exemplary application, as well as various different applications in which it is desired to accurately measure two components.

Although the embodiments discussed herein in this document have been described with respect to maintaining a desired volumetric flow rate, it will be appreciated that a mass-flow ratio of the dispensed components can also be obtained, provided that the temperature of the components can be controlled For this purpose, a pump assembly according to the present description may include heating and / or cooling devices to keep the two-part adhesive components within a predetermined temperature range. Such devices may include heaters and / or coolers functionally coupled to one or more of the manifold 20, the first and second pumps 12, 14, 62, 64, 100, 102 and the gun 33. For example, Figure 4 represents a exemplary liquid dispensing system 10a, similar to the liquid dispensing system 10 discussed above, in which the heating elements 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d are functionally associated with the manifold 20, the first pump 12 , the second pump 14 and the gun 33, respectively. Alternatively, the liquid measurement system 10a can be equipped with a heating jacket system for the circulation of the heating and / or cooling fluid to one or more parts of the system 10a in order to maintain the temperature of the adhesive components. Alternatively, various different structures and procedures can be used to control the temperature of the adhesive components within the desired ranges.

The liquid measurement system 10a may additionally include detectors 122a, 122b for detecting the temperatures associated with the adhesive components, and communicating with a controller 124 that functions to adjust the temperature of the adhesive components in order to maintain the desired temperature. By controlling the temperature, a desired mass-flow rate can be obtained considering the specific gravity of the adhesive components. For example, a mass flow rate of approximately 1: 1 can be achieved by adjusting the proportion of the frame thickness h2 / h1 equal to the proportion of the specific gravity of the first component with respect to the specific gravity of the second component.

Claims (7)

1. A measuring system (10) for dispensing a two-part adhesive, comprising: a first gear pump (12, 62, 100) for pumping a first component of the two part adhesive, the first gear pump (12, 62, 100) having a first inlet (26, 74) to receive the first component of the two part adhesive and a first exit (22, 70); a second gear pump (14, 64, 102) for pumping a second component of the two-part adhesive, the second gear pump (14, 64,102) having a second inlet (28, 76) to receive the second component of the adhesive from two parts and a second exit (24, 72); a manifold (20, 68, 106) that communicates with the first outlet (22, 70) of the first gear pump (12, 62,100) and the second outlet (24, 72) of the second gear pump (14, 64 , 102), and having at least two manifold outlets (31, 32, 77, 79) to dispense the first and second components of the two-part adhesive in a mixing device (30.78); Y a motor (18, 66, 104) functionally coupled to the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 62, 64, 100, 102) and that drives the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 62, 64,100 , 102) in a fixed speed ratio with respect to the other, characterized in that the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 102) are held adjacent to each other on the manifold (20, 68, 106) or are separated and placed on opposite sides of the manifold (20, 68, 106).

2.

 The measurement system of claim 1, further comprising a static mixer in fluid communication with the collector outputs.

3.

 The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the first gear pump (12, 62, 100) comprises a first gear train functionally coupled to the motor (18) and having a first frame thickness; the second gear pump (14, 64, 102) comprises a second gear train functionally coupled to the motor (18) and having a second frame thickness; and a mass-flow ratio between the pumps (12,14, 62,64, 100,102) which is controlled by the proportion of the first frame thickness with respect to the second frame thickness.

Four.

 The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 102) are held adjacent between each other on the manifold (20, 68, 106), in which the motor (18) It is coupled to the first and second gear pumps (12,14, 62, 64, 100,102) by means of a belt.

5.

 The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 62, 64, 100, 102) further comprise a common conductor shaft.

6.

 The measurement system of claim 2, wherein the first and second gear pumps (12, 14, 62, 64, 100, 102) are configured to provide adhesive components to the static mixer in volumetric flow rates of approximately 1: 1 to about 10: 1.

7.

 The measuring system of claim 1, further comprising a heating element functionally coupled to at least one of the first gear pump (12, 62, 100), the second gear pump (14, 64, 102) or the manifold (twenty).